Anaheim Ducks defenceman Schneider clears waivers, remains on roster

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Anaheim Ducks defenceman Schneider clears waivers, remains on roster

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Ducks defenceman Mathieu Schneider cleared waivers Wednesday and remained on the roster, leaving the team about US$3 million over the $56.7-million salary cap.

The 39-year-old NHL veteran wasn't claimed by another team after being placed on waivers Tuesday. That leaves the Ducks with difficult decisions involving the salary cap crunch that has led them to delay re-signing free agent winger Teemu Selanne.

"We wanted to see if we could do it from a timing standpoint that would free the money up immediately to sign Teemu," Ducks general manager Brian Burke said. "We've been trying to trade Mathieu and have not been able to put a deal together that makes sense, so we said we're going to take a shot at this route and see what happens."

Schneider signed an $11.25-million, two-year contract in July 2007, before the Ducks knew for sure that Scott Niedermayer was going to return.

The Ducks can't buy out Schneider's contract because the deadline for doing so has passed.

Burke said the team has turned down a minimum of five trades for Schneider in the last week, with all of them involving additional players. He said the Ducks would reassess those options.

"Now we know that moving the entire salary is not realistic, so how much money and what player do we have to take back for a deal to line up?" Burke said. "One of the teams that is involved in this process has already called since Mathieu cleared and I'll just resume those same discussions."

Schneider had 12 goals and 27 assists in 65 games for the Ducks last season. He appeared in all six playoff games, with one goal. He had a plus-or-even rating in 32 consecutive games from Dec. 18-March 5, the longest streak in the NHL last season.